Addressing the 64th meeting of the G-24 ministers, Dai Xianglong, governor of the People's Bank of China, said although economic globalization is a general trend, developing countries have not been able to benefit. He noted that the south-north gap is widening.

Dai said there has been a decline in resource transfers from developed countries to developing countries despite the end of the Asian financial crisis.

He said developed countries only promote the free flow of trade when it is in their favor.

Protectionism and unrealistic trade terms enacted by developed nations have severely hindered economic improvement in developing nations, he added.

Dai warned that the lopsided pattern of economic development in the United States, Japan and the Euro zone has led to extraordinary volatility in exchange rates and capital flows, and thus has brought about extreme uncertainties in the functioning of the world economy.

"Sustainable world economic development will never be realized unless these problems are solved," he emphasized.

Dai noted that since a fair and equitable international economic order is essential to the sound development of the global economy, developing countries should strive for their due say in international economic affairs and their legitimate rights. Their interests and positions should be respected. He urged the G-24 to play a more important role in this respect.

"Under the influence of new shareholders and NGOs with political backing, the World Bank has become more politicized in recent years; this is not consistent with its Charter or the interests of developing countries," Dai said.

He expressed his hope that the World Bank will strictly abide by its Charter and serve developing countries, and that its policies will not run counter to the fundamental interests of developing countries.

(Xinhua 09/24/2000)